April 5, 2019 Issue, Page 4 of 14

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JOE, | WARNED YOU ABOUT CREEPING UP BEHIND HER LIKE THAT... Serving Western Oklahoma Since 1901 Community groups work to increase census Affordable medical awareness By Oklahoma Institute for care located in Elk City Child Advocacy CEO Joe Dorman gency care when I first came to town. A coalition of community Xpress Wellness Urgent groups and associations rep- Care celebrates five years resenting local governments ofbeing in business in Elk and advocacy organizations are partnering to spread City this month. I visited the awareness about the upcom- facility, located at 411 W. 3rd ing 2020 U.S. Census and to St., right after I came down encourage Oklahomans to with what felt like an upper participate. The census exists respiratory infection. Turns to take an accurate count out, it was just a pesky allergy of the population within the that often rears it ugly head United States. Based on this once or twice a year, it seems survey, the federal govern- Munsch like. The symptoms actually ment distributes over $675 Dorman billion to states and communi- began before I moved to town. ties. By Don Munsch Whatever the case, the Katie James, left, clinic manager at at Xpress Wellness Census data is used to determine how many U.S. repre- Editor symptoms kept me up most of Urgent Care in Elk City, talks with Marie Kelley, licensed sentatives each state is allotted. It is also used by communi- the night before I got treat- practical nurse, at the Xpress Wellness in Elk City. ties to plan for a variety of resident needs, including new When J arrived in Elk ment. I felt miserable, and Xpress Wellness celebrated its fifth anniversary in Elk roads, schools and emergency services. Businesses also use City a few weeks ago, one of Ifound Xpress Wellness City on Tuesday. Staff photo by Don Munsch. the data when making decisions on where to locate. the first personal matters I after doing a Google search, The census relies on resident responses, which are com- piled via phone, digital email surveys, and in-person visits, wanted take care of was find- providing me some relief that afflictions that don’t require cian’s assistant on staff, said culminating in “Census Day” on April 1, 2020. ing an eye doctor. Tcould do an online check-in, emergency room visits. No Katie James, clinic manager. ‘Community groups and local government associations But I didn’t need an optom- visit, receive treatment and one likes the wait times in the It is open seven days a week, are working now to raise awareness about the importance etrist for a routine eye exam. get on with the rest of my day. ER, and no one - especially too: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday of participation. Their coalition, Count Me IN Oklahoma, is And besides, I have my yearly One nice touch: Someone those without insurance - through Saturday and 1 to working to raise awareness and recruit other likeminded or- exams in December. from Xpress Wellness called likes the huge bills that arrive 7 p.m. Sunday, and accepts ganizations to answer the call to provide information about Rather, I was looking for me afterward to find out how afterward. multiple insurances. It is the U.S. Census to the Oklahomans they serve. Participating someone here who could per- Iwas doing. That’s a first with Establishments like Xpress owned by chief medical of- groups currently include the Oklahoma Institute for Child form a procedure that might any kind of medical establish- Wellness also help those folks ficer Dr. Scott Williams, who Advocacy (OICA), Association of County Commissioners of Oklahoma (ACCO), the Oklahoma Municipal League ordinarily force someone to ment, at least in my experi- who don’t have a primary is based in Oklahoma City. (OML), the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits and the Okla- find a specialist in a bigger ence. Usually, doctors just care doctor. I have visited Xpress Wellness has locations homa Policy Institute. Joe Dorman, chief executive officer city, such as Oklahoma City encourage patients to call if walk-in medical centers like in other Oklahoma cities. for the OICA, said his organization is particularly worried or Amarillo. they are still sickly or their this one in other cities, and I “We are happy to be here about getting an accurate headcount of children and young, Fortunately, I found some- symptoms have not abated. have found that you can see a and serve the community,” college-aged adults. Census data influences the distribution one here in town and made an I discuss my experience be- doctor at them for a manage- James said. of billions of dollars nationwide, including almost $16 billion appointment. cause places such as Xpress able price. And there will no doubt be for Title I grants that help local educational agencies serve Talso found, fortunately Wellness fulfill a need for Xpress Wellness has a people happy to visit on days more than 24 million students in low-income families and communities. It also helps direct more than $12 billion for enough, a place for emer- people who have conditions or nurse practitioner and physi- when they need healing. special education grants, along with funds for the national school lunch program, Head Start, and grants for improv- ing teacher quality. “The government cannot provide Serving others assistance for children it doesn’t know exist, so it’s very important we get accurate figures for the youth population,” Dorman said. “Many young Oklahomans live in areas which are hard to count, such as homes outside of towns and apart- ment buildings, so it is important to respond when receiving census requests by mail or when they knock on your door.” “College-aged adults are also an easy population to under- “True heroism is remark- count, because they assume their parents are reporting for ably sober, very undramatic. them at their homes,” added Dorman. “It’s important these Itis not the urge to surpass students and their parents understand that they need to be all others at whatever cost, counted exactly where they live on April 1, 2020, so college communities receive an accurate population count.” but the urge to serve others at even awake. Most talked very those who serve from the ACCO Director Gene Wallace said his organization is whatever the cost”. - Arthur little if at all, as she styled heart out of the need to give working to inform county elected officials and their constitu- Ashe their hair to look nice for that like the single mother who ents ofthe importance of the census to county governments. Ina small, dusty town in special day, some for family took unpaid time from work “A lot of county funding is impacted by population western Oklahoma one No- visits, many for no one at all. to help the elderly, and there counts,” said Wallace. “If you care about the quality of your vember, there lived a young With just a few hours of her are the pretenders who per- local roads and bridges, it’s your civic duty to participate in single mother struggling to time, she brightened many form a service, then quickly the census when their employees reach out to you.” make ends meet. She worked lives by giving of her time and look around expecting praise Information collected in the census influences the way public officials distribute federal funds every year for as many hours as she could talents. and recognition. Pretend- services like schools, fire departments, hospitals and com- at a local convenience store, Asked later why she was ers are willing to serve, but munity health centers. Mike Fina, executive director of the barely making enough to get willing to go through so much only if they have an audience OML, emphasized the importance of participation. by. After work she would to serve, she replied, “I just waiting to applaud them, and “Qur cities and municipal governments receive state and take care of her small child needed to give. I made them never their own family. True takes time to sit with the sick, federal dollars for a variety of programs that improve our and assist an elderly relative happy that day. I made a dif- service is serving others and the elderly, or the lonely all quality oflife, our health and the safety ofour citizens,” said who lived in the same town, ference.” expecting no recognition and Fina. “We need every Oklahoman who receives a census occasionally running errands Inasociety centered nothing in return. show love and selflessness survey to respond so we are not underrepresented in our and buying groceries. It was around self and success, We all want to live ina that is rare in today’s world. communities.” In 2016, Community Health Centers (CHC) nearing Thanksgiving and we are so quick to find fault community that follows the John Gardner once said served more than 25 million patients in urban and rural locations. CHC are often the only source of care available to the young mother felt aneed with others, to constantly ‘love thy neighbor’ rule, but “when people are serving, low-income patients and are playing an increasingly impor- to help others growing strong complain about how no one few want to take our time life is no longer meaningless.” tant role in providing treatment for people caught up in the in her heart. She called local is doing anything, yet slow to or make the effort to be that Does your life ever feel mean- opioid epidemic. “Census participation is important for a charities and finally found get up and perform even one loving neighbor. We all want ingless? Do you ever catch variety of needs, such as the ability to recruit new business- acause she could give her act of service to another. So someone to visit us if we are yourself thinking “what's the es so families can have the best possible jobs available,” said time to. A nearby nursing concerned are we with how shut in or ill, but do we make point?” Dorman. “Company executives use census data to identify home needed someone to others see us, we fear losing time to do the same for others ‘communities where they might build a factory or office style residents’ hair that day. respect or being seen as weak we know when they are? Are Awise friend shared over building, or open new stores. Census numbers also guide the After much argument with or less if we ‘stoop’ to help we helping by serving their lunch once that, “You can distribution of billions of dollars in community development her boss who did not want carry the burden of another needs or do we find ourselves give without loving, but you block grants.” The 2020 Census is also a source of tempo- rary jobs. Those looking for employment with the Census to allow her time off work to person though we are happy criticizing them for why they can’t love without giving.” Bureau can find more information athttps://2020census.gov/ volunteer, she won her case to complain about every- are there? We want to share in How often we serve expecting jobs. To join Count Me In Oklahoma, reach out to Dorman and set off on Thanksgiving one else’s lack of action. In a loving family environment, nothing in return is a clear re- at [email protected] or contact him through the Okla- morning to the nursing home. today’s hurried and harried but do we show that love to homa Institute for Child Advocacy at (405) 236.5437. Use In the hallway outside the society, the greatest gift you our family by serving them? A flection of how much we love. the hashtag #CountMeInOK when promoting the effort on room where she styled their can give someoneis the gift of woman who cheerfully serves You know you have truly social media. hair, residents lined up. Some your time by serving. her husband, a husband served when you walk away General information on the 2020 Census is available at: were in wheelchairs, some There are two kinds of unafraid to be seen washing afterward feeling like you https://www.census.gov/ were in beds, some weren't people who serve. There are adish, or a busy person who were the one who received.